CHAPDISC: DH30, THE SACKING OF SEVERUS SNAPE

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 184497

 "Oryomai" <SnapesSlytherin at ...> wrote:
> When we last left my hero, Severus, he was single-handedly trying to
> save the castle from V ¡V wait, what?  I'm supposed to talk about the
„« Trio was doing? 
„« 

Potioncat:
Well, at least you're starting with the important part. Thanks for a 
thoughtful summary. I'll have to make my replies in sections.  

> 
> Questions!!
> 1.How do you feel about Luna being the one to stun Alecto?  Is it
> notable that one of the "extras" from the DoM battle is the one to
„« help Harry out?

Potioncat:
Like the others, I never saw her as an 'extra.' Pretty telling though 
that she uses a more battle-appropriate spell than Harry does.
> 
> 2.Professor McGonagall was easily able to figure out the riddle to
> open the Ravenclaw entrance. What does this say about her Sorting?
> I've never found her to be incredibly brave but have always found 
her
„« to be very smart.

Potioncat:
Now that's interesting. Can you tell us more about why you never 
found her to be incredibly brave?

It looks like she would have fit very well in Ravenclaw. There are 
quite a few characters who have strong traits from more than one 
house, and it's not always the most obvious trait that determines 
placement.
> 
> 3.More interestingly (to me anyway) is the fact that the Carrows had
> to have Professor Flitwick *let* them into the common room. Do you
> think they tried to enter but got Professor Flitwick out of
> frustration, or do you think they thought there was a password?  How
> does the fact that some people, like Professor McGonagall, seem to
> know things about the castle that the Death Eaters don't affect the
„« upcoming battle?

Potioncat:
I wonder if Flitwick could get into Gryffindor if he wanted to---
without asking McGonagall? Or, can any clever person get into 
Ravenclaw? Would the door perhaps know a riddle that can't be 
answered and so trick a non-Ravenclaw?

But even if teachers had a special way of knowing, or of being told, 
I'm sure none of the loyal Hogwarts staff would let the Carrows in on 
the secret. And I do mean "none" of the loyal Hogwarts staff.

What bothers me, is that no one seemed to be watching out for the 
Ravenclaw students. Any fanfic worth its salt would have had a 
certain cat sitting by the fireplace, or a portrait keeping tabs.

What the teachers know about Hogwarts does help them. They've been 
there many more years than any of the DEs had been. Yet, it works 
both ways. Look how knowing the castle helped Draco in HBP.

> 
> 4.Do you think Harry would have Crucio'd Amycus if he had not felt
> that rush of affection for Professor McGonagall moments before?  A
> Stunning Spell would have worked just as well and would have had the
> added bonus of not alerting Amycus to the fact that he was, in fact,
> in the Tower. (I'd like to avoid the moral points of the Crucio by
> Harry, but that's like trying to avoid discussing Severus' teaching
„« methods!)

Potioncat:
I can accept the motivation. I can understand the action. I also 
won't get into the moral points. 

> 
> 6.Has there ever been any outrage about Professor McGonagall using
„« the Imperius Curse on Amycus? If not, why not?

Potioncat:
No one seems bothered by Harry's use of it at Gringotts either. We 
used to discuss the Unforgivables before HBP or DH. Many readers 
could see appropriate uses for the Imperius if used under controlled 
conditions. Maybe that's why it doesn't generate as much ire as the 
Cruciatus.

> 
> 7.What do you think is the significance of Professor McGonagall
> *finally* believing Harry about something that is going on at the
> school (Quirrell stealing the Philsopher's Stone anyone?)?  Does it
> have more to do with Dumbledore or more to the fact that Harry has
> managed to survive several months with the Death Eaters trying to
„« kill him at every turn?

Potioncat:
She doesn't see Harry as a student anymore, but as an adult. (You 
don't know what it costs me to refer to a 17-year-old as an adult.) 
Seriously, his role and position have changed and she acknowledges 
that.
> 
> 8.Can Severus see through invisibility cloaks?  If not, why does he
> always seem to know that Harry is around?  Severus never catches him
„« in the cloak, but he always seems aware that Harry is there.

Potioncat:
It's always been a little unclear in each of the situations if Snape 
knew or if Harry thought Snape knew. Several other posts have 
demonstrated ways Snape would know about Harry's presence without  
his being able to see through the IC.

I was going to take on the suggestion that it is Snape's Legilimency 
at work. That requires eye contact and it's hard to have eye contact 
with an invisible eye. But in HBP, Snape seemed to be able to perform 
Legilimency on Harry without eye contact. 

Whether he could sense Harry's presence, deduct Hary's presence or 
see through the IC---he wouldn't let on. He wouldn't want anyone else 
to know had the ability.